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Poll: I _____ three emails today.

Be advised that this is a public poll: other users can see the choice(s) you selected.

Re: Present Perfect

Originally Posted by Tdol

I culd say 'I've been sending him emails for several days and he hasn't replied'. Here, the action is incomplete because I wil send more emails until he replies. However, with 3 emails, you have basically sent them or not.

Present perfect continuous can also be interpreted here as: This is how I spent my time, answering the question: what have you been doing? I have been sending emails.

Re: Present Perfect

I've been sending three emails today is not quite correct, even with the explanatory sentence added. An expression of time showing a period of time over which the action of "sending three emails" has been repeated over and over again must be included in the sentence in order for it to sound correct. Something like I've been sending these three emails all day, but they keep bouncing would be more acceptable and less likely to be misunderstood.

By the way, e2e4's sentence is rather incorrect. "Funny! I'd also been sending three E-mails (for hours) earlier today but they kept bouncing" would make more sense.

In any case, the inclusion of "three" in the sentences sounds rather unnatural.

Re: Present Perfect

I have sent three emails today.
=> present perfect that means more the result "three emails". This sentence is only there for emphasizing the result and so it's not important who has sent them. * These are three emails that I have sent and neither more nor less. *

I have been sending three emails today.
=> present perfect continuous that shows more the action "been sending". This one is there for emphasizing the action. * It's me who have sent the three emails today and not another one. *

Re: Present Perfect

I believe the correct answer is “I have sent three e-mails today” because the emphasis is on the result and the result is that e-mails have been sent, but I could be mistaken because I’ve been learning English for only a year now.

I have one more example. Which sentence is correct?

Did you really cook it yourself? It’s delicious. Have you really cooked it yourself? It’s delicious.

I believe second one is correct, but I would like to hear your opinions.
Thanks

I've been sending e-mails. (It doesn't matter how many, when? recently, lately, you've probably interrupted me with your question about what have I been doing, it also doesn't matter have I finished or not...)

"today" is an adverb of time and match for example simple past but not present perfect or present perfect continuous.

If "today" takes place in the expression simple past should be used with.